Collapsible trailer container

Abstract

A collapsible trailer container for automobiles, comprising a rectangular enclosure having a base member and four vertical panels pivotally connected to the base member such that the panels can be pivotally moved to made them rest in a stacked configuration above the base member. The container also comprises two tubes, each connected to each side edge of each of the four vertical panels, and a pin inserted through the tubes when aligned, for locking the panels in a vertical position to form the enclosure with open top.

1. A collapsible trailer container for automobiles, comprising:
 (a) a one-piece base member; 
 (b) four upright supporting members connected perpendicularly to the base member; each upright supporting member containing two perpendicular walls with at least one hole on each wall to receive a pivoting axle; 
 (c) four one-piece panels pivotally connected to the four upright supporting members such that the panels can be pivotally moved into a vertical or horizontal position above the base member; 
 (d) locking means for locking the panels in a vertical position to form an enclosure; 
 (d) a first bar parallel to the base member and supporting the base member and a second bar extending perpendicularly from the first bar; the bar for hitching the container to automobiles such that the base member is parallel to the ground; and 
 (e) a hinged lid. 
 
     
     
       2. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises an I-section supporting the base member and an elongate bar extending perpendicularly from the I-section; the elongate bar for hitching the container to the automobile such that the base member is horizontal to the ground. 
     
     
       3. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is made of metal. 
     
     
       4. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the base member and the panels comprise a meshed metal structure bordered by a metal frame. 
     
     
       5. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprises a lid adapted to be secured on top of the panels after the panels are locked in the vertical position. 
     
     
       6. The collapsible container of  claim 5 , wherein the lid comprises at least one slot for receiving at least one hook on at least one panel and at least one bracket to grip at least one other panel; the lid is secured using a lock to the hook. 
     
     
       7. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the base member has four sides, the base member is connected to four upright supporting members comprising two identical strips attached to each other about their longitudinal edges at right angles and the panels are pivotally using rotating axles between the upright supporting members. 
     
     
       8. The collapsible container of  claim 7 , wherein the panels comprise two side panels, a front panel, and a rear panel. 
     
     
       9. The collapsible container of  claim 7 , wherein the panels are dimensioned such that their top edges lie in the same horizontal plane when they are locked in the vertical position. 
     
     
       10. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is an open top rectangular enclosure, with the base member that is rectangular and four of the panels, each pivotally connected to each side of the base member at varying heights. 
     
     
       11. The collapsible container of  claim 10 , wherein the panels are dimensioned such that their top edges lie in the same horizontal plane when they are locked in vertical position. 
     
     
       12. The collapsible container of  claim 10 , wherein the base member comprises an upright supporting member extending from each of its corners and the bottom corners of each of the panels are pivotally connected between a pair of the upright supporting members. 
     
     
       13. The collapsible container of  claim 12 , wherein the panels comprise a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of side panels; the height of each side panel being half the length of the base member. 
     
     
       14. The collapsible container of  claim 13 , wherein the side panels, the rear panel, and the front panel are connected between the upright supporting members at a first, second and third locations, respectively, wherein the first, second, and third locations are at varying heights from the bottom of the upright supporting members. 
     
     
       15. The collapsible container of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second, and third locations are in the increasing order of their heights from the bottom of the upright supporting members so that when the container is to be collapsed, the side panels are to be folded and rested on the base member first, followed by the rear panel, and finally the front panel. 
     
     
       16. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises:
 (a) two tubes, at least a quarter inch in length, each connected to each side edge of each of the four panels such that, when two adjacent panels of the four panels are pivotally moved to a vertical position, the tubes align; and 
 (b) a pin for inserting through the aligned tubes thereby locking the panels in vertical position. 
 
     
     
       17. The collapsible container of  claim 16 , wherein the tubes are internally threaded for receiving the pin, which is externally threaded. 
     
     
       18. The collapsible container of  claim 16 , wherein the pin is slidably received within the aligned tubes. 
     
     
       19. The collapsible container of  claim 18 , wherein the pin comprises a means for irremovably securing itself in place within the aligned tubes. 
     
     
       20. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , wherein the means for irremovably securing the pin in place within the aligned tubes comprises a plurality of retractable upward projections located at the bottom of the pin for preventing the pin from coming out of the aligned tubes. 
     
     
       21. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , wherein the means for securing comprises a looped wire attached to the head of the pin; the wire to be looped around the bottom portion of the pin so as to prevent the pin from coming out of the aligned tubes.